The excitement of basketball season is rolling right along and fans who are located in legal online sports betting markets will want the best information before betting on the NBA. Make no mistake about it, there are a variety of options available to bet on NBA action as the online sports betting industry continues to grow.
As the legal sports betting industry becomes more widely available, the ability for hoops fans to bet on the NBA have only increased. NBA fans have a plethora of impressive sportsbook operators, and even more ways to wager using various bet types.
When betting from game to game, some of the more common bet types include moneylines, point spreads, over-under totals, player props, live betting, parlays, and more.
Basketball fans should also know that NBA betting is not limited to gameday. Futures betting markets are incredibly popular ways to bet on NBA action, as users have the ability to lock in wagers with premium odds long in advance.
Whether you're a new NBA bettor, or someone who has been betting on NBA games for years, this page will cover everything from top to bottom concerning how to bet on NBA in 2024.
How to Bet on NBA Games
Basketball fans will be excited to learn there are numerous ways to bet on NBA games as it stands in 2024.
There is certainly no shortage of different bet types, and users have a myridad of NBA betting apps to place those wagers with.
Some of the most popular way to bet on the NBA are by placing moneyline, point spread, and over-under total wagers, but users also have access to more advanced (and potentially more lucrative) NBA bet types as well.
Moneylines
Betting the moneyline for an NBA game is without a doubt one of the easiest ways to get started. Moneyline bets simply represent the outright winner of a game, so it's a very straightforward wager.
Odds for moneyline bets are reflective of each team's win expectancy and have a direct correlation to how the potential payout is calculated. Favored teams will be labeled with (-) odds, while underdog teams will be represented by (+) odds.
For an example of an NBA moneyline bet, if you wager $150 on the Minnesota Timberwolves at -150 (favorite) odds, a winning wager would return a $100 payout. To reverse the odds, if you bet $100 on the Timberwolves when they are at +150 (underdog) odds, a winning bet would return a $150 payout.
Point spreads
One of the most popular ways to bet on the NBA, users have the option to place point spread wagers from game to game. Point spreads represent the handicap set between the two teams playing in a game. Favored teams will be laying (-) points, while underdog teams will be getting (+) points.
To give an example of a point spread bet, if you wager on the Minnesota Timberwolves (-5), you will need them to win the game by at least six points to cover the spread and win your bet.
On the flip side, if you bet the Timberwolves at (+5), then an outright win or a loss by no more than four points would return a winning ticket. If a point spread bet ends in a tie, the wager is considered a push, and the user is refunded.
Over-under totals
NBA fans with less of a particular rooting interest in either team playing in a game can give themselves something to watch for by playing the over-under total.
With an over-under total bet, the scores of both teams are added together to see whether it falls over or under the pre-game total number.
Just like with a point spread bet, an over-under total bet that ends in a tie is considered a push, and the user is refunded.
NBA player props
Perhaps NBA fans are particularly fond of a specific player on any given team. Those users can bet on the success (or failure) of that individual, completely separate from the success of the team. This is called a player prop bet.
Player prop bets pertain only to the statistics of an individual player, and disregard the team win/loss outcome of the game.
Common NBA player props to bet include: points totals, assists totals, rebounds totals, three-pointers made totals, steals totals, blocks totals, first basket scorers, and so much more. NBA bettors also have the ability to parlay player props together for multiplied odds and a potentially larger payout.
Multi-game parlays
Speaking of a parlay, this is an ultra-popular way to bet on NBA action. Parlay bets can be potentially the most lucrative ways to wager on NBA games, though they do carry a heightened sense of risk/chance to lose.
With a parlay bet, users combine together multiple betting lines from various games onto one ticket. When doing this, the odds are multiplied, and provide the bettor with immese value on the ticket. However, in order to win a parlay bet, each individual leg of the wager must win.
If any of the leg(s) loses, the entire parlay bet is lost. If a leg(s) on a parlay ends in a tie, it is considered a push, and voided from the ticket.
Same-game parlays (SGPs)
Fans also have the ability to place same-game parlays, and it's becoming one of the most popular ways to bet on NBA basketball. Rather than grouping together multiple bets from various games (as seen in a traditional parlay), fans can lock-in on just one matchup and stack multiple betting lines from one game onto the same ticket to create a same-game parlay.
Various sportsbooks provide users with pre-picked same-game parlays as well as giving the user the opportunity to craft their own wager. It's also worth pointing out that on certain sportsbooks, same-game parlays can operate with slightly different rules than traditional parlays.
Make sure to carefuly read through the rules, terms, and conditions for NBA same-game parlay betting before getting started.
Placing future bets on the NBA
Placing wagers from game to game is not the only way to bet on NBA, as users also have the ability to place futures bets.
These futures bets are very popular and can produce some of the most exciting payouts as well. Placing a futures bet is essentially calling your shot in advance with typically longer odds.
Some of the more popular NBA futures bets could be options like: the Minnesota Timberwolves to make the NBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the NBA Western Conference, or even the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the NBA Championship.
NBA bettors also have the option to place futures bets on individuals to win awards like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Coach of the Year and so much more.
Typically, the most popular time to place futures bets on NBA action are before the season starts, as the odds are usually the longest (and most valuable) at this point. However, NBA futures betting markets are updated throughout the season as to reflect the status of the ongoing action and keep the odds in accordance. And that's part of what makes futures betting so fun and potentially rewarding.
For an example, let's say you placed a pre-season bet on the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the NBA Championship at +7500 odds (Timberwolves opened the 2023 season at +7500 odds on multiple sportsbooks).
Well, after the Timberwolves got off to a fantastic start and sit as the top team in the Western Conference heading into the All-Star break, their odds to win the NBA Finals have dropped all the way down to +2000.
If you were sharp enough to lock-in that pre-season Timberwolves NBA Championship ticket at +7500 odds, you will be sitting on premium value as the season rolls along and Minnesota looks like a legitimate contender.
Team futures bets
As described, wagering on team futures lines is one of the most popular types of NBA futures betting. Fans have the ability to place various NBA futures bets on teams to reach certain stages of postseason play, or simply to win a certain number of games during the regular season.
Some of the most popular NBA Team Futures bets to make include the following:
- Team win total (over-under)
- Team to make the Playoffs
- Team to win the Division
- Team to win the Eastern/Western Conference
- Team to win the NBA Finals
It's very popular to place NBA futures bets before the season starts, but odds are updated throughout the campaign allowing fans to continue to jump into the futures NBA betting markets.
Individual player awards and statistics
In addition to betting on NBA teams futures markets, users also have the ability to place futures bets on individual awards. Some of the most popular NBA individual futures betting markets include the following:
- Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
- Most Improved Player
- Coach of the Year
Best NBA betting promos
Sportsbook promo codes are unquestionably among the most enticing factors for new players learning about how to bet on the NBA.
With these sign-up offers applied, first-time bettors can score lucrative sportsbook bonuses to begin their NBA betting journey in the right direction.
There are several NBA betting promo types available including bonus bets, deposit matches, bet-and-get bonuses, and other exciting offers. Already live and launched in various states throughout the country, new users can get started and use any of the best sportsbook bonuses to bet on the NBA in 2024.
Which states have NBA online betting?
Sports betting has already been launched in several states throughout the country, including AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV.
Prospective NBA bettors located in those states can claim various lucrative sportsbook bonuses to score an awesome welcome offer to bet on the NBA during the 2024 season.
How to bet on the NBA: Frequently asked questions
This section covers some of the frequently asked questions relating to how to bet on NBA.
Is it legal to bet on the NBA in 2024?
Yes, it is legal to bet on NBA action in several states throughout the United States in 2024: Legal states include AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WV.
Can I use a sportsbook promo code to bet on NBA games?
Yes, players can use a sportsbook promo code to claim a bonus for betting on NBA: New user bonuses are the best way to get started for fans interested in learning how to bet on the NBA.
What is the minimum betting age to bet on the NBA?
In most states the minimum betting age is 21 years old: However, there are multiple states that provide legal betting services to users 18 years or older.
What is the easiest way to bet on NBA games?
The easiest way to bet on NBA games is to place a simple game-to-game wager like a moneyline: Moneylines, point spreads, over-under totals, and more are some of the easiest and most user-friendly ways to bet on NBA.
Can I bet on a team to win the NBA Finals?
Yes, this is called a futures bet, and it's a very popular way to bet on NBA: In addition to team futures betting, users have the ability to bet on individual futures awards like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and more.
— Bob Wankel is a Director at XL Media where he covers breaking news and sports betting.